16 Days in Buenos Aires

After having lived in Buenos Aires now for over two weeks, I feel like we've started to get a grasp on what it means to live here. We've settled in to our apartment, which is quite spacious and comfortable. (its even got a piano, though they've locked it to keep wine lovers like me from serenading the neighbors late at night) We've shopped at the grocery store down the street, Disco, more times than I can count. We've even used 15% off coupons. We've gotten to know the subway system well, and know what end of the train to get on so you are closer to our street. We've become regulars at the gym - our gym's Spin instuctor knows me as "la chica de Nueva York." We've even got out favorite local bar and favorite local restaurant.

our apartment: view #1

our apartment: view #2

Daily life somewhat resembles life in New York. At first glance, you might say why did we fly 11 hours to the southern hemisphere to live the life we just packed up? But, what is so enjoyable is noticing and experiencing the tiny, and not so tiny, differences that exist for seemingly the exact same activities.

Schedule:
-People start the day off a little slower. Waking up early doesnt mean the same thing as it does in NYC.
-Lunch hour isnt an hour. I'd give it more from 1-330pm. Its not a siesta like in Spain, but it is definitely much more relaxed and sacred than it is in NYC.
-Work ends around 6pm, but dinner usually doesnt start til around 930. This leads the way for a 8-11ish happy hour.
-People don't go out to bars or clubs until earliest 1am. And on Saturday, people stay out until well past sunrise.

Food and Drink:
-I don't think I've seen a single to-go cup of coffee in this entire city. When you go out for a cup of cafe con leche, you sit there, you enjoy your coffee, and you enjoy the time you are sitting there. Its quite a process and its refreshing to see people taking a moment to slow down. And, you never just get coffee - you end up with this all for about $4:

2 cafe con leche, 2 tiny glasses of OJ, 2 tiny glasses for the water that's in the pitcher. 2 wrapped cookies.

-There really arent many bars. I dont know if its because people drink more coffee than alcohol on average or if they would just rather go to a club than just drink in a chair. We've had a hard time finding places that really are just there so you can get a good beer. They are mostly cafes, clubs, and restaurants. Bars are more here for foreigners or for indulging in foreign customs it seems.

- Its not "cool" to drink water in Argentina. I've not seen a single person drinking a bottle of water, unless it was in the gym. Everyone drinks expensive sodas instead of water. At home, I was accustomed to drinking water with every meal instead of sugary drinks and we feel a little uncool ordering water with lunch so we've compromised and we get sparkly water.

Other:
-You can not go to a laundromat and do your laundry. If you dont have a washing machine, you have the laundromat staff do the laundry for you. Score for me.
-If you have a dog, you are supposed to pick up the poo on the street. No one does. So be careful. Its like a minefield.
-Keys. The keys are awesome. Our apartment keys easily could have come from 1850. or 1750. definitely not 1950.

.-Farmer's markets actually ARE cheaper than the crap in the grocery stores. The below would have been at least $16 at the Union Square Greenmarket. San Telmo Market: $4.50:
We are in BsAs for 12 more days before we head out to Bariloche for some snowboarding. At first I thought a month could be too much time, but Im starting to be sad that our goodbye is so soon.